Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-03
NIX. CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, February >, 1891
Scnate.

Mr.. George, from the Committee on
Agriculture, reported back fayoably
House bill appropriating 80, 900 Ito he
Immediately available) for the special
distribution of seeds in the drought
stricken sections of Texas by the Agri-
cultural Department.
After discussion the bill was passed
yeas, 81; nays, II. NJ
The request from the House 'ssaT1csrS IN
engrossed copy of lost bill to forfeit
certain lands of the North Pacific rail-
road was ordered to be complied with.
The Senate, at Is. resumed the con-
sideration of the sunGry civil appro-
pIiation bill.
Mir. Allison. chairman OF the Com
mittee on Appropriations, said that the
Senator from Connecticut (lr. PhtD
had inquired of him yesterday whether
or not there would be surplus i'll the
Treasury in case Congress made apprO-
priat:ons this session, in accordance
with the estimates Of the departments.
In his (Alr. Allison's 81 desire to complete
the bill last night he had failed to
answer that inquiry as fully as he
might have done. He then entered
into an elaborate argument to show
that the surplus for the next fiscal year
would be very srnnll-probably not ex-
ceeding fifteen millions. Toreach this
conclusion, Mr.. Allison said the esti-
mates submitted amounted to 1916, OOO,-
OOO. Since these estimates had been made
the Mexican pension and dependent
parents pension bills had been passed,
which would add 100000 to the
foregoing estimates, and other legisla-
ton calling for the expenditure of pub
lie money. which would bring the total
of the estimates to 1895, 600. 000, against
a probable income of S410,OOO,OJ0.
In Mr.. Allison's figures the postal re-
ceipts and expenditures are included.
The net figures without these items
would probably be stated at fifty mil
lions less on each side of the account.
Curiously enough said Mr.. Allison,
"perhaps naturally enough, the Secre-
tary of the Treasury this year
snakes no estimate of the reye-
nue.. 1t has been the custom Of
former Secretaries of the Treasury to
make estimates of the revenue giving
actual returns for the first quarter OF
the wear (befOre Congress meets, and
estimating for the remainder of the
wear and for the next fiscal year. A
careful examination of the laws dis
close the fact that the Secretary of the
Treasury is not bound to make these
| estimates; 80 that we can have no ac-
! tual guide as to what the revenue will
be. either for the current year or for
the next fiscal year, except from the
estimates made last year and from the
receipts up to the lst OF January last.
These statements were brought ont
by a series of questions from Messrs.
Tlatt, Ingalls,, and Morrill,, and incl
dentally to his statement Mr.. Allison
took occasion to criticize the policy OF
further increasing the sinking fund,
which now exceeds by three hundred
millions the amount required by law
establishing it, especially il such in.
crease must be made by the purchase
in open market of bonds held at large
premium. Mr.. Allison stated that il
had never happened that Congress hat
appropriated to the full amount of esti
mates, and probably would not in thii
case. and he conceded that after the APP
propriations had been made the sur
plus might amount to fifty millions, bu
not more.
Mr.. Platt then said Nov, if w
are not TO have for the next fiscal yea
n surplus exceeding fifty millions
want to be reckoned as an opponent o
any scheme that will lessen that sur
plus, and don't want this Congress /,
adjourn until it has provided in som,
way that sum equal, or nearly equal
to fifty millions shall be immediatel,
available to commence system o
coast defences. / think that Congress
will be negligent of its duty will b.
Justly and severely criticised by tn
people; will have forgotten the bes
interests of the country, if it shall adj
journ without having made such pro
vision and / for one want TO b.
counted as an opponent of any schem
that will reduce the revenues Of thi
Government to point where there vii
not be plenty Of money to inaugural
and carry on most vigorously q thor
ough system of coast defences..' .
Mr.. Beck took exception to Mr.. ALI
sons figures, aud held TO the opinion
that the surplus viii be nearer ninet,
than fifty millions.